Cessna 421B N5MJ

Summary

On 6 August 1998 at about 10:50 local time, a Cessna 421B registered N5MJ was involved in an accident near Columbus, Indiana, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 1998 at 10:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Columbus Municipal (BAK)

Coordinates

39.2304, -85.8309

Aircraft

Cessna 421B

Registration

N5MJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Detroit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI98LA302

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot-in-commands failure to maintain airspeed and the subsequent stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident were the open baggage door and the inadequate aircraft preflight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon reaching an altitude of 400 agl after takeoff, the left side door on the nose baggage door opened. The pilot-in- command initiated a left turn to return to the airport. During the turn the stall horn sounded. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain. Investigation revealed that both pilots did a portion of the aircraft preflight inspection. Both pilots were qualified to act as PIC for the flight and this flight would typically have been a single pilot operation. However, the company who hired the operator to transport their employees requested two pilots. The operator did not have any written procedures regarding the division of duties for a two pilot operation on this type of aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.